Mike Martz: Offensive genius or fortunate coach?

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Tuesday, June 17, 2008  |  Comments( 11 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Complimentary words like "guru" and "genius" have often been used to describe San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, whose unstoppable Greatest Show on Turf attack led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title in 1999. The Martz-led Ram offense scored 66 touchdowns in 1999, 34 more than it racked up the previous season. The unit also totaled 4,353 yards that year, an improvement of well over 1,000 yards from '98. And with Marshall Faulk leading the running game, Martz improved the Rams’ rushing numbers from 1,385 in '98 to 2,059 in '99.

In addition to his days as a coordinator, Martz had some success as head coach of the Rams after Dick Vermeil retired, but he was eventually fired in 2005 after amassing back-to-back losing seasons. He then moved to the Detroit Lions as their offensive coordinator in 2007, but Martz's success was limited.

Because of that, 49ers fans are wondering whether their Martz is the one who was St. Louis' offensive coordinator or the guy who failed in Detroit.

With the Lions last season, Martz did help the team improve offensively; but looking at the numbers doesn’t show the kind of improvement you'd want from an elite O-coordinator. The Lions posted 2,878 passing yards under Martz in 2007, which was quite a drop-off from the 3,800-plus they accumulated the year before. Detroit progressed in the rushing department from 1,129 yards in 2006 to 1,288 in '07. The team also had 13 more first downs under Martz and six more touchdowns last season, but those are minimal improvements.

Looking at individual stats with the Lions doesn’t tell as much of a positive story for Martz. Last season, the Lions’ leading receiver was Shaun McDonald, who garnered 943 yards. The 2006 Lions, who didn't employ Martz, had two 1,000-yard receivers (Roy Williams and Mike Furrey) in 2006. That same season, leading rusher Kevin Jones had 689 yards on the ground; under Martz last year, though, the current free agent put up only 581 ground yards.

Analyzing Martz's numbers with the Rams and Lions almost begs the question: Is Martz really an offensive genius, or is he a coach who was in the right place at the right time with St. Louis?

When he was leading the Rams’ offense in 1999, Martz had the pleasure of having one of the best backs in the history of the NFL in Faulk, a two-time NFL MVP who was as dangerous catching passes out of the backfield as he was running the ball.

Martz also had two of the top receivers in the league in Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, not to mention a quarterback, Kurt Warner, who went on to post some of the most impressive single-season passing numbers in league history.

Martz obviously still had to call the plays with the Rams, and he did lead an offense that continually kept defenses guessing because of the varied sets. With the diminished success Martz had with the Lions, though, it also points to the fact that the difference between a genius and a person looking for a new job often lies in the personnel with which he has to work.

That leads us to Martz and the 49ers. Fortunately for Martz, he has a very durable and versatile back in Frank Gore, who led San Francisco in rushing and receptions last season; Gore obviously seems like the perfect fit for Martz’s wide-open offense.

Despite that, Martz doesn’t have the kind of quarterbacks or receivers he had with the Rams. Whether it’s Alex Smith or Shaun Hill, Martz won't be getting another Warner.

In the receiving department, Martz doesn’t have anything close to what the Rams did. While Martz will be reunited with Bruce in San Francisco, the 35-year-old is at the end of his career and is more of a possession receiver than the touchdown threat he was with the Rams.

With one positive (the Rams) and one negative (the Lions) on Martz’s offensive coordinator resume, the 2008 season with the 49ers will most assuredly be a measuring stick in determining his success. After this season, everyone should know whether Martz is an offensive genius or someone who benefited from great parts.
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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every...
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